Apparatus for and method of assembling radio tubes and radio tube bases



Dec.

P. v. MATHlAs ErAL APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING RADIO TUBES AND RADIO TUBE BASES Original Filed Jan. 4. 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 APPARAT'US'FOR AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING RADIO TUBES AND RADIO TUBE BASES I Original Filed Jan. 4, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dee. 21, 1943. P v. MATHlAs ET AL 2,337,056

l j? Paf# 1./ MATH/.4s f .35 Mem/MAE Man/afl l By l P. v. MATHlA's ETAL APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING Dec. 21, 1943.

' RADIO TUBES AND RADIO TUBE BASES Original'Filed Jan. 4, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A www? wm. l

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QQNI 4 Patented Dec. 21, 1943 APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF ASSEM- BLING RADIO TUBES AND RADIO TUBE BASES Paul V. Mathias, Plainville, Conn., and Marvin E. Mundel, Peoria. Ill., assignors to Tung-Sol Lamp Works, Inc., Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Griginal application January 4, 1941, Serial No. 373,200. Divided and this application March 18, 1942, Serial No. 435,180

(Cl. Z50-27.5)

Claims.

This application is a division of our application Serial No. 373,200, filed January 4, 1941.

This invention relates to the manufacture of radio tubes, thermionic devices, and the like and particularly to apparatus for and method of assembling such devices and their bases.

The assembly of the bases on radio tubes, thermionic devices and the like involves tedious and costly steps according to the conventional practice, particularly in the threading of the leading-in conductors into the proper terminals of the multi-terminal base.

One object of the invention is a new device or apparatus and method of assembling the base upon the radio tube or other similar device with the leading-in conductors of the tube threaded into the desired terminals of the base.

A further object of the invention is a novel and improved method and means for separating and straightening the leading-in conductors of a radio tube or the like preparatory to the assembly of the base.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this applica-tion, wherein Fig. 1 is` a side view partly in section of a modified apparatus; i

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an end View of the apparatus; Fig. 6 is an exploded view of a radio tube shell and the orienting device, with the latter partly in section;

Fig. 7 is a plan View of the shell support, partly in section along line 'l-l of Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the last step in the threading operation;

Figs. 9 and 10 are views of a modiiication;

Fig. 1l is a side View of an apparatus for separating and straightening the lead-in wires preparatory to the threading operation;

Fig. 12 is a plan view partly in section thereof;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of a part thereof; and

Fig. 14 is a sectional View of a detail taken on line |4-I4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 8, the tube shell to be threaded is mounted on a movable carriage 30 which in turn is mounted to move horizontal- 1y on the trackways 3l with ball bearings 32 interposed between the tracks 3| and the carriage 30. The carriage 3l] and the tracks 3l are provided with mating V-shaped trackways 30 and 3|. The trackways 3| are mounted upon a base 33 and are spaced therefrom by means of bars 34, the tracks and the bars 34 being anchored to the base 33 by any suitable means as, for example, the screw-bolts 35. The track 30 is normally urged in one direction, vto the left as indicated in the drawings, by means of a spring 36, one end of which spring is fastened to a pin 3l projecting downwardly from the track 30 at the right end and the other end of the spring is fastened to a similar pin 38 projecting upwardly from the base 33. A buier stop 39 of any suitable material as, for example, of rubber, is fastened to the left end of the base 33 and disposed in the path of the track 30 to limit its movement to the left under the influence of the spring 3G. This buier member is fastened to the base 33 in any suitable manner as, for example, by screw-bolt 4). The ball bearings 32 are retained in the raceways 30 and 3|' in any suitable manner as, for example, by means of pins 4I disposed in openings formed laterally of the tracks 3l and projecting into the path of the bearings 32. Similar pins 42 are disposed within openings formed on the opposite sides and at the ends of the carriage 30. These pins 42 cooperate with the pins 4l to retain the bearings in the operative position.

The carriage has mounted on the right end thereof and on its upper side a bracket 45, which is secured to the track 30 in any suitable manner as, for example, by means of the screw bolts 46. A base shell support and positioner 41 is pivotally mounted on the bracket 45 as, for example, being pivotaly mounted on an axis 43 through the medium of a pin passing through a lug formed on the lower end of the member 4l and through openings formed in jaws 45 between which is disposed the lug on the bottom of the carrier. The lug is indicated at 4l. The axis of pivotal movement is at right angles to the direction of movement of the carriage 33, in the particular embodiment shown, and the support and positioner 4l is capable of assuming either a substantially vertical position or a substantially horizontal position as illustrated in Fig. 1. This supporting and positioning member 4l is in the form of a'hollow sleeve or cup-like member and a positioner or orienting device 50 isdisposed'within this hollow member 41. The orienting member 50 is also of sleeve-like or cup-like form and has a longitudinal slot l formed in the upper part thereof. The upper end of the positioning member 5i! is beveled off from a point 52 on both sides thereof downwardly to the slot 5l to form cam or guiding surfaces 53 for turning and orienting a shell Ll when the latter is positioned on the carrier. The internal diameter of the positioning member 55 is just large enough to accommodate freely the conventional projecting pin 55 carried by a shell of the type illustrated. This projecting pin 54 carries on the side thereof a key-like member 55 which is accommodated bythe slot 5l formed in the positioning member Eil. When the shell l5 is positioned upon the shell carrier l with the projecting pin 5d disposed in the upper end of the positioning and orienting member 53, the key member 55, if the shell is not properly oriented, engages one of the cam or guiding surfaces 53 to prevent the stable support of the shell in that angular position and to rotate the shell to a position wherein the key 55 can enter the slot 5l. A stable and properly oriented position is reached when either the lower end of the key 55 engages the bottom 5l of the slot or the lower end of the pin 5d engages the bottom of the cup-like positioning member 50 or the shell engages the top of the carrier 4l. The positioning and orienting member 5i! may be angularly adjusted within the carrier 4l to give the correct orientation for the particular tube shell being worked upon, and the positioner can then be xed in that position by means of a set-screw 56 passing through the barrel of the support 4l and engaging the outer surface of the positioner 5i?. In the particular embodiment shown, the positioner 55 is milled oi around its exterior at 5U and the set-screw 56 is adapted to engage this milled out portion. The hollow terminal pins 5 are disposed on the outside of the carrier il when the shell is in its supported and oriented position and the upper end of the carrier 41 has its walls reduced as indicated at 5l to readily accommodate these terminals 5 thereabout.

rlhe support il is normally urged in an upward direction by means of a spring 58 mounted on a pin 59 carried by the bracket l5 and having one end 58a engaging the track 3D and its other end 58h engaging the support 4l and tending to operate the support 4l to a Vertical position.

The cooperating threading member l has guiding slots GQ for the lead conductors which are vertically disposed and the walls forming these slo-ts are provided with upper guiding Vs tl to facilitate the positioning of the wires 3 within these slots G. The member i is removably mounted so that it can be replaced with a different threading device corresponding, as for example, to a different type of radio tube shell.

It comprises a vertical plate 62 which is mounted at its lower edge upon the base 33 and is fastened thereto by an angle member 63, the latter being fastened to the base 33' and to the vertical plate 62 by means of the screw bolts 8f3. This plate 32 carries the cylindrically shaped member S which is preferably formed integrally therewith. This plate is cut away on the right side to form a U-shaped recess 65 and the upper edge 62 of the part 62 extends above the level of the upper part of the cylindrical member 8.

Fig. 1 shows in dot and dash line the position of the support 41 and the shell 4 when it is in position for threading. In this position the shell 4 is held in the horizontal position so as to aline the openings in terminal pins 5 with the bottoms of the slots 6! and the means for supporting the shell in the exact horizontal position is the member 6l having a V-shaped seat for the shell. This member Sl is mounted upon the plate 62 and is milled off at its outer edge to form a cam surface 23 for facilitating the operation of bringing the support lli and shell into the correct threading position, the shell engaging and riding up the incline 88, if it should happen to be disposed slightly below the horizontal position shown in dotted lines when it is in a position 'to be brought over to the right. YIt is understood that the shell support il is adjusted to assume a substantially horizontal position when it is turned over to the right. When the support ll'l is turned over to the right to the dotted position shown in Fig. l its shoulders 69 which are disposed on the opposite sides of the lug di" (see Fig. '7) engage set screws 59 which are screw-threadedly mounted in the forks 115 of the bracket 45. These screw bolts 63S are adjusted so as to limit or prevent the movement of the support il below the horizontal. The V- support 6l is fastened to the plate 52 by means of bolts 58', the latter passing through openings formed in the V-support and screw-threadedly engaging openings formed in the plate 62. The openings 5l' through which these bolts 63 pass are elongated in the vertical direction to permit up and down adjustment of the support 671.

The movable support thus forms the orienting means for imparting to the shell l the correct angular position and the supporting means 61 performs the function of horizontally alining the terminal pins 5 with the bottoms of the slots 55. In operation, the operator positions the shell :l with the pin 54 in the upper end of the positoner 55. The shell 4, either by its own weight or by positive rotation by the operator, will be rotated to a position where the key 55 registers with and enters the slot 5|. 'Ihe operator then engages the bracket 65 and the support Gl, or either of these, and with the support 41 pivoted over against the tension of the spring 58 into a substantially horizontal position to the right, as indicated in Fig. l, at the same time moves the carriage over to the right against the tension of the spring .Gt to cause the terminal pins 5 to register with the bottoms of the slots 5B, the barrel 8 being disposed in the shell and engaging the bottom of the shell with the terminals properly alined. At the same time the operator has positioned the lead wires 3 l within the slots @t with the ends of the wires engaging the bottoms of the grooves and when the shell is brought to the threading position the ends of the lead wires are caused to enter the terminals 5 as described in the .aforesaid application. The operator uses one hand to manipulate the shell and support lil', and the other to manipulate the tube and wires 3 (Fig. 8).

In the embodiment of Figs. 9 and l0 the orienting member i0@ comprises a solid cylindrical member Il@ which is disposed within the support fil, this member being angularly adjustable by releasing the set screw 55, the latter engaging the groove 59 formed on the periphery of the member lll). The orienting member |99 is adapted to accommodate a different type of shell from that shown in Fig. 6. This shell III is provided with the plug terminals 5 but does not embody the central pin Eil. The positioner or orienting member iii?? is provided with openings l|2 and IES for the reception of the plug terminals 5 of the shell, and the shell is simply positioned on the member |99 with the plug terminals passing through these openings ||2 and H3. On its outer face the member |09 is provided with an annular groove ||4 from which theopenings ||2 and ||3 extend, thereby leaving in the center an abutment ||5 which supports the central part of the shell It is observed that the openings ||2 are larger than the openings ||3 and these form a guide for the operator to facilitate the correct orientation of the shell. The operator merely drops the shell on this support |09 with the plug terminals of the shell corresponding to the openings l|2 passing therethrough, whereupon she rotates the support 41 over to the right against the tension of the spring 58, similarly to the operation described above with respect to Figs. 2 to 8. It is understood that in Fig. 9 the support 41 is positively held in the position there shown against the tension of spring 58.

An important step in the threading operation is the straightening and stretching of the wires 3 prior to the step of positioning these wires within the slots 69. A method and apparatus for carrying out this step of the threading operation is shown in Figs. 11 to 14. The apparatus for eiecting this operation comprises a base frame 33, which may be separate from or a continuation of the base 33 shown in Figs. 2 to 5. Upon this base is mounted a track generally similar to the track 3| described above, and Abetween or on this track a carriage 1| is mounted for movement back and forth. At 12 are diagrammatically indicated ball bearings or rolling pins disposed between the tracks 10 and the carriage 1| for facilitating movement of the carriage. The carriage carries a seat or mount 13 for a radio tube 2. The radio tube 2 is supported freely on this seat 13 and is movable with the carriage to and from a straightening and stretching mechanism shown mounted to the right of the track 16 on the base 33.

v This mechanism comprises a pair of separator jaws 15, 16 which are pivotally mounted at one end on a carrying pin 11, the latter being carried by a bracket or support member 18 projecting upwardly from the base 33. The left ends of these separator jaws and 16 are provided with inwardly turned gripping and separating elements 19, these elements 19 being provided with matching or mating recesses 80 to accommodate the lead-in conductors when the two jaws are brought together. Each of these gripping parts V19 is also provided with a centrally disposed mating notch or recess 8| to accommodate the exhaust tube 82 of the radio tube. The gripping parts-19 are rounded off to conform to the exterior curvature of the press 84; that is, when the jaws 15 and 16 are brought together with their gripping parts 19 engaged, the exterior surface of the gripping parts 19 form a substantially snug fit with the curved end part 83 ofv the tube. Accordingly, irrespective as to what extent the wires 3 may be twisted and misplaced, as indicated in Fig. 14, the separator jaws 15,

16 engage or embrace the roots of these wires 3' at the points where they emerge from the press 84, and, by relatively moving the tube and the jaws 15, 16, the wires 3 are separated from each other. Forv facilitating the operation of the jaw members 15 and 16, there is provided a spring 851 diagrammatically shown and engaging the innerV sides of the separating jaw members 15 16and applying a force thereto tending to separate the gripping parts 19 from each other. For` outer surfaces of the separating jaws 15 and 16 to bring the gripping parts 19 together when the operating member 86 is rocked about the axis of the pin 81. This rocking of the member 86 may be eiected in any suitable manner, as for example, manually, and at 90 there is shown a manually operated means which extends, as for example, to an operating foot pedal (not shown for convenience in illustration).

For facilitating the separating and straightening operation of the wires there is illustrated a pair of straightening jaw members 9| and 92 having inwardly projecting pivotal bracket members 9|' and 92' for pivoting on a carrying pin 93. The latter is carried by a plate or bracket member 94 mounted on the base 33. The straightening jaw members 9| and 92 are provided with mating inwardly turned gripping parts 95 and 96, which are adapted to be brought together to grip the wires 3 therebetween and apply a stretching and straightening operation thereto. In the particular embodiment shown, these gripping parts 95 and 96 are provided with mating male and female parts 95 and 96', but it is understood that any form of gripping surface may be provided, the purpose being to grip the wires tightly so as to apply a stretching and a straightening operation thereto as relative movement is imparted to the straightening jaws and the radio tube 2. The members 9|, 92, 95, 96, when actuated to grip the leads wholly surround the spacthe pivot pin 93. A tension spring 99 is fastened to pins |00 on the ends of the jaws9| and 92 and tends to separate the gripping parts 95 and 96. The cam 98 is mounted on a pin |0| which is carried by the plate or bracket 94, the cam being keyed or fastened to the pin which forms a shaft rotating in an opening or bearing formed in the member 94. The cam 98 may be operated in any suitable manner, as, for example, man-A ually, and there is illustrated an arm |02 projecting from the cam and having an operating means |63 illustrated diagrammatically and extending to a foot pedal (not illustrated for convenience in illustration).

The operation of the mechanism shown in Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive is as follows:

The operator positions a radio tube 2 upon the seat 13 with its wires criss-cross and twisted together as indicated somewhat in Fig. 14. With the supporting jaws 15 and 16 and the straightening members 9| and 92 separated and disposed in the inoperative position as shown in Fig. 13, the operator brings the radio tube and its carriage to the position shown in Fig. 13. In this position the gripping parts 19 are brought more closely together and simultaneously with their engagement to embrace the wires, the tube 2 is brought to the position shown in Fig. 14 with the mating notches 80 of the jaws 19 engaging or surrounding the individual wires 3 at their emergence from the press 84. The gripping jaws 19 are heid in this position and the radio tube and' its carriage are slightly withdrawn to a position to clear the gripping parts 95 and 96' of the jaw members 9i and 92. The gripping parts 95, 96' then are brought together against the tension of the spring 99 and caused to engage the wires 3v at a point between the tube 2 and the jaws 'I9'. These jaws 95 and 96 are caused to grip the wires suciently tight to enable a stretching and straightening force tov be applied thereto as the tube and the jaws are relatively separated. The operator thereupon forcefully withdraws the radio tube 2 while the gripping jaws are all in operative position, the jaws 19 separating the wires as the relative separation movement proceeds and the jaws 95 and 96 applying force to the wires to tension and straighten them. In this operation the wires 3 are not only separated from each other but are set so that they remain separated while the operator then proceeds tothread the wires into the shell as described above. The grippers I9 preferably embrace without tightly engaging the wires 3, so as not to rupture the welds I between the lead extensionsl 3 and the lead-in wires 3' proper.

We claim:

1. The method of threading the leading-in conductors of a radio tube and the like into a base, which consists in simultaneously separating and applying a stretching and straightening tension to the leading-in wires, positioning the ends of the leading-in wires into guiding and alining recesses formed in a suitable device and positioning the base shell adjacent said device with the terminals thereof alined with the recesses and moving the leading-in wires? endwise into the base terminals.

2. The method of assembling basesY with multiple terminals on radio tubes and the like having multiple leading-in conductors comprising the separating and straightening of the leading conductors of a radio tube, the positioning of the leading-in conductors laterally thereof into guiding and alining vertical grooves and sup'- porting, alining and relatively moving a baser shell to cause the leading-in conductors to enter the terminals.

3. A means for preparing the leading-in wires of aA radio tube and the like for a base threading operation comprising a pair of cooperating wire-v separating members shaped generally conformably to the shape of the seal end of the radio tube and embracing the wires at their point ofr emergence from the radio tube, and one of saidv members having separate spaced notches accommodating the leading in wires whereby upon relative movement between the tube and said separating members, the wiresare separated.l

4. A means for preparing the leading in wires of a radio tube and the like for a base threading operation, comprising a pair of cooperating wire separating members shaped generally conformably to the shape of the sealed end of the radio tube and embracing the wires at their point of emergence from the radio tube, one of said members having separate spaced notches accommodating the leading in wires, and meansf for gripping the wires at a point between said members and the tube to apply tension thereto upon relative movement of the tube whereby upon relative movement between the tube and' said separating members, the wires are simultaneously caused to be separated andtensio'ned.

5. A means for preparing the leadingY in wires of a, radio tube and the like Yfor a base threading Cil operation, comprising a pair of cooperating wire' separating members embracing the wires at their point of emergence from the radio tube, the ends of said cooperating wire separating members being shaped when mated generally conformably to the shape of the sealed end of the radio tube and' having means thereon for separating and spacing the wires whereby upon relative movement between the tube and said separating member, the wires are separated.

6. A means for preparing the leading in wires of a radio tube and the like for a base threading operation, comprising a pair of cooperating wire separating members embracing the wires at their point of emergence from the radio tube, the ends of saidl cooperating wire separating members being shaped when mated generally conformably to the shape of the sealed end of the radio tube and having means thereon separating and spacing the wires, and operating means causing said members to embrace the wires at their point of emergence from the tube,v whereby upon relative movement between the tube and said separating members the wires are separated.

7. A means for preparingl the leading in wires" of a, radio tube and the like for a base threading operation, comprising a pair of cooperating wire separating members embracing the' wires at their point of emergence from the radio tube, the ends of said cooperating wire separating members being shaped when mated generally conformably to the shape of the sealed end of the radio tubev and having means thereon separating and spacing the wires, spring means moving said coop'- erating members relatively to each other, and

power means operating in opposition to said spring means moving the cooperating members in the opposite direction, whereby upon relativeA movement between the tube and said separating member the wires are separated.

8. A means for preparing the leading in wires of a radio tube and the like for a base threading operation, the sealed' end of said tube having a concave surface with the leading in wires4 pass# ing outwardly therethrough, comprising a pair of cooperating wire separating members embracing' the wires at their point of emergence from the tube, the said membersfwhen matedbeing shaped to conform generallyto the concave surface ofi the sealed end of the tube and having matingedges which separatelyv embrace the leading in wires at-their point of emergence, whereby upon relative movement between the tube and the separating members the wires are separated.

9. A means for preparing? the leading in wires ofa radio tube or the like for a base threading operation, comprising a pair of cooperating wirel separating members embracing the wires at their point of emergence from the radio tube, the ends? of said cooperating wire separating members be-v ing shaped when mated generally conformably to the shape of the sealed end of the radio tube? and having means thereon for separating and spacing the wires whereby upon relative movement between the tube-and said separating member, the wires are separated, means being providedr applying a straighteningY and tensioning forceto the's'paced wires ata point between the tube I4and the separating members simultaneously with the relative movement between the tubey and vthe members, said tensioning and straighteningimeans comprising a` pair of gripping jaws surrounding the separating members and accommodating a tube'for bringing the latter into wire spacing relation with said' members.

10. A means for preparing the leading in wires of a radio tube or the like for a base threading operation, comprising a pair of cooperating wire separating members embracing the wires at their point of emergence from the radio tube, the ends of said cooperating wire separating members being shaped when mated generally conformably to the shape of the sealed end of the radio tube and having means thereon for separating and spacing the wires whereby upon relative movement between the tube and said separating member, the wires are separated, means being provided applying a straightening and tensioning force to the spaced wires at a point between the tube and the separating member simultaneously with the relative movement between the tube and the members, said tensioning and straightening means comprising a pair of gripping jaws surrounding the separating members and accommodating a tube for bringing the latter into wire spacing relation with said members, and spring means for moving said gripping jaws in one direction and cam means for operating the same in the opposite direction against said spring.

11. In a means for simultaneously spacing, straightening and tensioning leading in wires of a radio tube, the combination of means for embracing, separating and spacing the leading in wires upon relative movement of a tube, and separate means for gripping and applying tension to the wires simultaneously with the separating and spacing operation.

l2. In an apparatus for separating, straightening and tensioning the leading in wires of a radio tube and the like, two pairs of cooperating members, one of said pairs of members embracing the wires of the tube at their point of emergence therefrom and separating the same upon relative movement of the tube and a second pair of cooperating members gripping the said wires at a point between the said first pair and the radio tube, and means for operating said pairs of cooperating members.

13. In an apparatus for separating, straightening and tensioning the leading in wires of a radio tube or the like, two pairs of cooperating members, one of said pairs of members embracing the wires of the tube at their point of emergence therefrom and separating the same upon relative movement of the tube, and the second pair of cooperating members gripping the said wires at a point between the said first pair and the radio tube, and means for operating said pairs of cooperating members, the cooperating straightening and tensioning members being carried by arms surrounding the rst named pair of cooperating members.

14. In a means for simultaneously spacing, straightening and tensioning leading in Wires of a radio tube and the like the combination of a pair of cooperating wire separating members embracing the wires at their point of emergence from the radio tube, the ends of said separating members being shaped when brought together in wire spacing relation generally conformably to the shape of the sealed end of the radio tube and having means thereon separating and spacing the wires, means supporting a radio tube in operative relation to the Wire separating members, a pair of tensioning and straightening jaws disposed to grip the wires at a point between the tube supporting means and the separating members, said radio tube supporting means being relatively movable with respect to said members and jaws, and means operating said `separating member and said jaws to cause them to embrace the wires.

l5. In a means for separating and spacing the leading in wires of a radio tube and the like, the combination of a pair of wire separating and spacing members embracing the wires at their point of emergence from the radio tube, the ends of said separating members being shaped when brought together in wire spacing relation generally conformably to the shape of the Sealed end of the radio tube and having means thereon separating and spacing the wires, means supporting a radio tube in operative relation to the wire separating members, said tube supporting means being relatively movable with respect to said members, and means operating the latter to cause them to embrace the wires.

PAUL V. MATHIAS. MARVIN E. MUNDEL. 

